Signaling apparatus for theaters, &amp;c.



. PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905.

T. E. MILLER. SIGNALING APPARATUS POR THEATERS, &o.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4, 1905.

ADVERTISEMENT CURTAIN lul/M70@ Tucker' E M 11u61 WITNESS S:

ATTURNEVS PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905.

T. E. MILLER. SIGNALING APPARATUS POR THEATERS, &o.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

NORVEYS R1 INYENO Tcker Ehh/hue? UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIon.

SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR THEATERS, &0.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. s, 1905.

nppiicanon nea February 4,1905. semi No. 244,182.

To LZZ 11171/0777, it may concern:

Be it known that I, TUCKER EARLE MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norman, in the county of Cleveland and Territory of Oklahoma, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Apparatus for Theaters,&c. of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention is in the nature ofa mechanical signaling device for theaters, opera-houses, &c., designed to reduce to a simple, quiet, and well-organized system the transmissionand execution of the various orders incident to the dropping of curtains, the setting of scenes, orders to the orchestra, dressing-room, head usher, electricians, grippers, &c., instead of having to rely upon verbal orders and the despatch of messengers.

In many cases, as in the event of fire, the shouting of orders and hu rrying of messengers is liable to start or increase the very panic which it is desired to avoid, and in such cases my apparatus secures the prompt dropping of the asbestos curtain, the opening of exits, &c., without any noise or excitement in a prompt and effective way before the audience can know anything of the preparations made for its safety.

My invent-ion consists in the novel construction and arrangement of a signaling apparatus comprehending an operators transmittingboard. a receiving -board, and intermediate mechanism whereby the above results are carried out, as will be hereinafter fully described.

In the particular application shown I have arranged the Various features of the apparatus for connection between the operators transmitting-board located at or near the stage-level and a receivingboard in the Hy-gallery, of which- Figure l is an interior view of the stage looking outwardly toward the auditorium and showing the location of my signal apparatus. Fig. 2 is a front, and Fig. 2 a sectional side, view of one of the units of the operators transmitting-board, which is located near the stagelevel. Fig. 3 is a front view, and Fig. 3 a sectional side View, of one unit of the receiving-board, which is located in the y-gallery. Fig. 3b is an enlarged sectional View of a portion of one ofthe units of the receiving-board, and Fig. 4 is a face view of the completereceiving-board.

In the drawings, Figs. I, 2, and 3, A Al BO represent one complete vertical unit of my signal apparatus. These units are repeated in parallel position side by side to any desired extent. As shown in Figs. l and 4:, there are ten. The upper portion of each unit consists of a vertically-elongated signal-box A, whose front is provided with a series of windows a. in which are made to appear sliding panels (d,

Figs. 3, 8, and 3b, and from which windows said panels may be made to disappear. These panels bear each its own ord er in plain letters.

In Fig. 3 only two panels are exposed, while l bring down each panel to its invisible position after having been raised by the pull-wires B. The lower portion of each unit consists of section C, Figs. 2 and 2, and a series of these in parallel vertical position (see Fig. l) form the operators transmitting-board. The sections of this board correspond in number'and position to the sections A A above and, as shown,are ten in number, each section O being connected by its group of wires B with its corresponding section A A above.

The signal-receiving board A A is located in elevated position in the fly-gallery in position for easy observation by the attendant in charge in the iy-gallery, and the operators transmitting-board C is located down upon or near the level of the stage, so that the operator may have a comprehensive view of the same and be fully advised of what is going on and what is required to be done.

Each vertical unit-section O of the operators transmitting-board has a vertical series of holes in front, through which the various wires B ofthe corresponding unit-sections A A pass to the front, (see Figs. 2 and 2) going around small pulleys c and c and terminating each in a pull-ring e, with rubber cushion-stop e', which prevents the weight,

above from drawing the lower end of the wire into the case. The rings e form handles for been thus exposed by the pulling of the handle-rings @by the operator` such panel is mamtained in such exposed position by fastening v signal-panels in the unit-section A in the iiygallery is printed or painted the corresponding order to be executed, each signal-panel above having its individual pull-ring in the operators transmitting-board below.

The signal-panels (see Fig 3) have recessed faces and bear grooved guideways (j g, in which are slipped cards bearing the printed order, which cards are interchangeable and may be taken out and replaced when desired.

To prevent a too great elongation of the receiving-board in the ily-gallery, it is made double with the panels in two vertical series, as seen in Figs. 3lL and 3h, one in front of the other, but each showing through its own window, the two series being' provided with separate sets of weights and interference being avoided by a middle partition p, in which also are arranged window-openings for the rear series of signal-panels.

To give a signal to the ily-gallery, the operator pulls down the ring on the operators board and hooks it over hook z. The lirst signal is, as seen in Fig. 4, "Actlf rlhe second signal in the same section is Advertisement curtain. Il at the close of an act the advertisement-curtain is to fall, theoperator at the end ofthis act pulls the ring on the operators board indicating that curtain, and this action raises the signal-panel in the iiygallery bearing the words HAdvertisement curtain.V The operator then pulls the ring marked Down and itsets the corresponding signal in the {1y-gallery board. Themas is customary in all theaters and opera-houses to give warning before a curtain is raised or lowered, the operator pulls the signal marked VVarning,7 and when the warning-signal disappears in the fly-gallery the curtain is lowered. The other signals are transmitted and the orders executed in a similar way.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A signaling apparatus for theaters, Sac., comprising an operators transmitting-board,

a receiving-board and intermediate connectwith separate box units arranged side by side, each unit consisting of a vertical box having a vertical series of Window-openings and avertical series of sliding signal-panels, and the operators board being formed of separate box units arranged side by side, each unit consisting of a vertical box bearing pull-handles and holding devices arranged in vertical series, the pulls of each unit of the operators board being individually connected to the corresponding panels of each unit of the receiving-board, and the panels of the receiving-board and the operating-pulls of the operators board being each marked with corresponding orders substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A signaling apparatus for theaters, &c., comprising the combination of an operators transmitting-board, a receiving-board and intermediate connecting-wires, the receivingboard being made with separate box units arranged side by side each unit consisting ot' a vertical box having a vertical series of window-openings and a vertical series of sliding signal-panels and located in the fly-gallery, and the operators board being arranged below the same near thestage level and being formed of separate box units arranged side by side, each unit consisting ot' a vertical box bearing pull-handles and holding devices, arranged in vertical series and intermediate wires running from the receiving-board in the y-gallery to the operators board near the stage level, the panels and pulls of the vertical units of both boards being individually connected and bearing corresponding orders substantially as described. v

3. In asignaling apparatus for theaters, &c. a receiving-board composed of a series of separate box units, each unit having a vertical partition forming two chambers, one in front of the other and each having window-openings in front, two series of'sliding signal-panels arranged one in front of the other, individual means for raising these panels and individual weights for lowering the same substantially as described.I

4. In a signaling apparatus for theaters, &c. a signal unit comprising a vertical box containing a vertical series of windows and a vertical series of sliding panels and weights, a vertical box with a vertical series of holes, pulls, andl hooks, wires connecting the pulls of one box with the panels of the otherbox and pulleys for guiding the wires substantially as described.

TUCKER EARLE MILLER. l/Vitnesses:

JOHN FRANING, JOHN L. SMITH. 

